Packaging folder



April 4, 1961 H. v. BOLDING 2,978,165

PACKAGING FOLDER Filed July 25, '1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 his 7 ATTORNEYS.

April 4, 1961 H. v. BOLDING 2,978,165

PACKAGING FOLDER Filed July 25, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. HUBERT V. BOLDING his ATTORNEYS.

I improveflthe. appearance en the package;

This invention .relates to improvements in packages for sliced meats, such as bacon, and other thin products which are conveniently arranged in overlapping relation.

In packaging sliced bacon, it has been the practice in recent years to employ a folder made from a blank cut and scored toform a fiat rectangular base panel upon which the product is arranged in overlapping relationship and having interlocking flaps which overlie adjacent margins of the product. In one package of this type,

oneof the flaps is connected to an edge of the base panel by a narrow end wall which is cutaway by open slots at both ends from the flap so that the flap is free to taper toward the flat base panel at both ends to conform to l the contour of the product packaged, The sliced bacon thus packaged inthe folder is then wrapped tightly in a transparent sheet material so that the portion of the product not covered by the interlocking marginal flaps is exposed to view. e

The conventional folder described abovehas' several drawbacks. ,First of all, the end of the package adjacent the end wall has no pre-established shape and little, if any, rigidity due to the fact that the tapered portions of the end flaps are separated from the end wall by the open slots therebetween. This is a disadvantage which is particularly apparent during the wrapping operation because attractive packaging requires tight wrapping, and tight wrapping with sheet material, in turn, requires a relatively rigid form about which the sheet material is wrapped. Moreover, the freely disposed tapered portions of the end fiapaiford a considerable freedom of movement to the end flap which makes it difficult to maintain it in proper position during-the wrappingoperation. This freedom ofmovernent adds to the difliculties in' handling the folder. especially. during and prior In addition, the freely ,dis-

to the wrapping operation v posed upstanding edges. of the end wall adjacent the open slots between the .endrwall and the endflapexpose the sheet wrapping to danger oftearingduring the (wrapping operation or during thelhandling of the package} after the'wrapping operation. i The package ofthe present invention-embodies a novel folder in which,,one end thereof, has a, pre-established shape for greater strength and rigidity. Among-other I p i advantages, ths-greaterstrength and{rigidity;;permits the t neer material to be wrapped tightly aboutthefolder to Inaddition, the" package stands up better a during handling.

is the predeterminedjtaper or convergence which is im-' p a di h set up.

-- Uni edsta es Pa en between the respective score line 17 For a complete understanding of the present invention, reference can be made to the detailed description which follows and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure, 1 is a perspective view of a package embodying the novel folder of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the folder;

Figure 3 is a view of a cut and scored blank from which the folder is made;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of an alternative form of blank; and a Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of still another form,

of blank.

The package illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings embodies a folder made from a blank cut and scored in the manner shown in .Figure 3. The blank is scored along a line 10 adjacent one margin and along lines 11 and 12 adjacent another, margin tosubdivide the blank into a side cover flap 13, a main base panel 14, an end wall 15, and an end cover flap 16. The'blank is also scored along lines ,17 and 18 which extend lengthwise across the main panel 14 and the end wall 15 in parale lel lines and continue across the end flap 16 along lines 17a and 18a, respectively, which taper slightly toward each other. a i i v The score lines 11 and 12 which define the end wall 15 are spaced apart from the inner edge of the recess 19 formed in one edge of the blank to the inner edge of the recess 20. formedon the opposite edge of the blank. More specifically, the score lines 11 and 12 are parallel to each other between the score lines'17 and 18,. but 'converge toward each other between the respective score line 17 or 18 and the respective recess 19 or 20.

Reinforcing tabs T are formed in the side wall 15 by U-shaped slits 21 and 22 formed in the blank. The slit 21 is located between the score line 17 and the inner edge of the recess 19; similarly, the slit22 is located between the score line 18 and the inner edge ofv the recess 20. The legs of the ,U.- shaped slits are coincident with the converging portions of the score lines 11 and 12. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the slits begin atthe score-lines Hand 18 and extend outwardly terminating short of the end edges 15a of the end wall The connections joining the legs of the slits are located or 18 and the inner edge of the respective recess 19 or 20. e

The free 'edge .of the endflap 16 is cut away at 23 to forman upstanding finger-like locking tab 24. The side flap 13 is slit along'a diagonal line 25 which extends from'the score line 10 toward the free edge of the flap 13 in a directionvaway from the locking tab 24, and the extreme end 26 thereof reverses indirection. The flap 13 is also cut along a.line 27 which-intersects atone end thereof with the diagonal line 25.

In packaging Sliced bacon in the'novel package of the presentfinven'tion, the slices are placed in overlapping relationship; on ;the*base panel 14, the slices extending p A feature of., tl 1e nqvel folder of the present invention A Qtherfeaturejof,the tpresent invention is theyprovision of reinforci ng tfabs which form part of the: v end wall spaceddnwardly]frornjthe extreme ends ofthefend wall: Thes'e reinforcingftabs impartjgreater strengthjto thepackage, particularlylin the region lpetweerif the converging portions' of menses-and and theendjfcover iht lul ,i cpj' 114 intoth'e aims,

inserting the 'tab'24 into the longitudinally from approximately the fold line 11 to' the opposite edge of the base panel,14.' The side flap 13 is then folded back alongthe score line 10 over the end shoe or slices to theposition shown in Figure 1. Also, the end wall 15 is folded, along the score linedll to upstanding position, that is, a pendicular to;,the main panel 14, thereby. automatically bendingqthe base panel along the-lines-17 and 18, and the end flap. 16 is folded along the. score line '12 over the e'nds'of the slices, thereby automatically bending the endgilap 16 along the lines and flfi are, ki ked together Patented Apr. 4, 1961 position substantially per- ,1

17a and 18a. 1 The 'flaps13 I by inserting the locking. tabp can ,be conveniently accor'n plished by twisting the endiiap l6,' to place;the side edge 28'of""1t he locking 'f tab ionthe diagonal,slit ZS andthen end portion 26 of the slit 25;

When the folder is thus erected, the ends of the end wall 15 will tend to angle outwardly away from the plane in which the middle portion of the end wall 15 lies. Thus, the edges 15a defining the extreme ends of the end wall 15 are offset outwardly from the plane of the portion of the end wall between the score lines 17 and 18 defined by the parallel portions of the score lines 11 and 12. The xtent to which the edges 15a are offset from the plane of the middle portion of the end wall 15 will depend on the included angle betweenthe tapering ends of the score lines 11 and 12. As the included angle defined by the extreme ends of the score lines 11 and- 12 increases, the greater will be the projection of' the ends of the end wall from the plane in which the middle portion lies. In the packaging of bacon slices, it has been found satisfactoryto taper the ends of the score lines Hand 12 so that they define between them an included angle in the range of from about to 20. Although both ends of the end wall project outwardly from the plane in which the middle portion of the end wall lies, the tabs T formed by the U-shaped slits 21 and 22. tend to lie in the same plane as the end wall 15 or, that is to say, in a position intermediate the tapering portions of the base panel 14 and the end flap 16. The tabs T thus reinforce the end of the folder and strengthen the end wall 15 against collapse. The reinforcement provided by the end tabs T can be further insured by tucking them inwardly toward the interior of the folder, although this is unnecessary in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3.

When the marginal flaps 13 and 16 have been interlocked in the manner described above, a transparent sheet material S is wrapped tightly about the bacon and the folder. The thickness of the package thus produced, at least at one end, is determined by the height of the end wall 15. The endwall is of relatively uniform height between the score lines 17 and 18,and the extent of taper at both ends of the end wall is determined by the included angle between the extreme ends of the score lines 11 and 12. The'included angle between the ends of the score lines 11 and 12, in turn, determines the extent to which the ends of the'end wall angle out from the plane in which the middle portion of the end wall lies, as well as the distance which the extreme edges 15a ofthe end wall are offset outwardly of the plane of the end wall 15, thus permitting the reinforcing tabs T to occupy positions intermediate the basepanel 14 and the end cover. flap 16. f

Alternate embodiments of the folder are shown in Figures 4 and 5. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the tabs T' are de'fined by u-shaped slits 30 and 31 in which the portions'of the slits connecting the-legs thereof lie on the. score lines 17 and 18 and the legs thereof extend partway along the tapered portions of the score lines 11 and 12 toward the recesses 19 and 20. The embodiment. shown in Figure 5 isgenerally similar to that shown in Figure4, except that the portions of the U-shaped slits 32 and 33 which 'join the leg portions are curved and lie inwardly of the score lines 17 and 18. In both the embodiments shown in Figures 4 andlS, the tabs T will tend to lie in the planes of the ends of the end wall 15, instead of in the'plane of the middle portion of the end wall 15. ,Accordingly, they are preferably tucked inwardly so' as to lie intermediate the base panel 14 and the end coverflap 1 6 in order to afford the desired reinforcement therebetween. i

, 'The' locking tab 'T can, of course, be eliminated, -but it contributes appreciably to the strength and rigidity of fications may be made therein without departing from the invention. For example, the score'lines 17 and 18 can be eliminated, the locking tab 24 can be of different construction, and the packaging folder can be provided with a similar end wall and end flap construction at the opposite end, to mention but a few of the more obvious modifications. Incidentally, even if the score lines 17 and 18 are eliminated, both the base panel and the cover flap will automatically taper toward each other at both ends when viewed from the direction of the end wall, causing both ends of the folder to.feather" at both the top and bottom. The invention, therefore, is not to.be limited to any specified form or embodiment, except insofar as such limitations are expressly set forth in the claims.

I claim:

1. A packaging folder made from a cut and scored blank comprising means defining recesses in opposite edges of the blank, an end wall defined between a pair of score lines which extend across the blank from one recess to the other, said score lines being spaced apart throughout their entire lengths but converging toward each other at both ends, said converging portions of the score lines defining between them end portions of the end wall which extend outwardly from the plane of the middle portion of the end wall, the inner edges of the recesses forming the extreme end edge of the end wall, which end edges are outwardly offset from the plane of the middle portion of the end wall, a base panel defined by the portion of the blank adjacent one edge of the end wall, a cover flap defined by the portion of the blank adjacent the opposite edge of the end wall, whereby when the end wall is adjusted to upright position relative to the base panel and the cover flap is adjusted'to overlie the base panel, both'the base panel and the cover fiap will automatically taper toward each other at both ends when viewed from the direction of the end wall, and reinforcing tabs defined by U-shaped slits, said reinforcing tabs each-forming parts of the end wall which are inter posed between the base panel and the end cover flap.

2. A packaging folder comprising a substantially rectangular base panel, a side cover flap connected to the base panel along one side so as to be foldable to overlie the base panel, an upstanding end wall connected along its lower edge to an edge of the base panel adjacent the said cover flap, an end cover flap connected to the upper edge of the end wall, said endwall being defined by upper and lower edges which aresubstantially parallel throughout a middle portion thereof and conver'ging at both ends, the lower edge extending upwardly at both ends and the upper edge extending downwardly at both ends, thereby causing the base panel to extend upwardly at bothends when viewed from the direction of the end wall and causing the end cover flap to extend downwardly at both ends when viewed from the direction of the end wallfthe middle portion of therend wall lying in a planedefined by the parallel edges and the end portions of the end wall extending outwardly from the said plane so that the extreme end portions are offset outwardly from said plane, and reinforcing tabs defined by 'slits,"s aid reinforcing tabs forming part of said end walls.

' -3. A--pa'ckaging folder as set forth in claim 2 in which thepackaging'folder. lithe tab T is eliminated, the end 1 wall. will be continuousfrom one ed ge 15a to the other, although even inthis case if theend wall is slit' along each of the 'scoreih'nes 17 and 18 any tendency of the end wall'tobuckle willbeeliminated. I The invention has been's hown'in preferred forms and by way of example only, "and 'many'wariations and modif the reinforcing tabs are defined by U-shaped slits, said U shaped slits each having a pair of leg-portions 'anda portion of each slit joining the leg portions, the leg portions "or each slit extending along lengths of the eon verging upper and lower edges "of the'en'd wall spaced apart fi'oi'n th'e extreme endthereof.

4. A packaging folder made from a'cu't and scored blank com prising an end wall defined. between a pair of score lines which'extend across the blank from one edge to an opposite edge, said-score lines being spaced apart throughout ,their 'entire llengths, the-fscoreJines being parallel at the middle eonverging toward; 'eac l 1 other at bothends, a base panel defined by the portien of-the blank adjacent one edge of the end wall, an end cover fiap defined by the portion of the blank adjacent the opposite edge of the end wall, whereby when the end wall is adjusted to upright position relative to the base panel and the end cover flap is adjusted to overlie the base panel, both the base panel and the end cover flap will automatically taper toward each other when viewed from the direction of the end wall, a side cover flap connected to an edge of the base panel adjacent the end wall, interlocking means carried by theend cover flap and the side cover flap to detachably lock them together,

and reinforcing tabs carried by the end wall for insertion between the base panel and the end cover flap.

5. A packaging folder as set forth in claim 4 in which the, reinforcing tabs are each defined by U-shaped slits and form parts of the end wall spaced apart from the extreme ends thereof.

6. A packaging folder made from a cut and scored blank comprising an end wall defined between a pair of spaced-apart score lines which extend across the blank and converge toward each other at their ends, a base panel defined by the portion of the blank adjacent one edge of the end wall, a cover flap defined by the portion of the blank adjacent the opposite edge of the end wall, whereby when the end wall is adjusted to upright position relative to the base panel and the cover flap is adjusted to overlie the base panel, both the base panel and the cover flap will automatically taper toward each other at both ends when viewed from the direction of the end wall, and a reinforcing tab defined by a U-shaped slit in the converging portion of the end wall at each end thereof, said reinforcing tab being insertable between the base panel and'the cover flap.

7. A packaging folder as set forth in claim 6 in which each U-shaped slit includes a pair of leg portions which extend along lengths of the converging portions of the score lines and a connecting portion between the leg portions.

8. A packaging folder made from a cut and scored blank comprising cutaway portions in opposite edges of the blank, an end wall defined by a pair of scored lines which extend across the blank from one cutaway portion to the other and by the inner edges of the cutaway portions, said scored lines being spaced apart throughout their entire lengths, extending in parallel relationship at the middle but converging toward each other at both ends, the scored lines being spaced apart at their points of intersection with the inner edges of the cutaway portions of the blank, the parallel portions of the scored lines defining a vertical plane in which the middle portion of the end wall lies and the converging portions of the scored lines causing the end wall to angle outwardly from said vertical plane at both ends, a base panel defined by the portion of the blank adjacent one edge of the end wall, and a cover flap defined by the portion of the blank adjacent the opposite edge of the end wall, whereby when the end wall is adjusted to upright position relative to the base panel and the cover flap is adjusted to overlie the base panel, both the base panel and the cover flap will automatically taper toward each other along predetermined scored lines at both ends when viewed from the direction of the end wall, the portions of the cover flap and the base panel adjacent the converging portions of the scored lines being maintained at a predetermined included angle to impart a predetermined shape to the end of the package, and the portions of the cover flap and the base panel adjacent the cutaway portions of the blank eing free to assume positions defining between theman included angle different from said predetermined angle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Allen Jan. 5, 1960 

